guide to selling your property

Market Appraisal (Valuation)

This is the first step towards making selling a reality. Every home owner wants to achieve the best possible price within a timescale which suits their needs and onward move. We will demonstrate to you how we use innovative marketing techniques in order to help you achieve this.

It is essential that you invite a well-established and trustworthy agent with a thorough knowledge of your area who will give you sound advice about trends in the local property market.The appointment normally takes around half an hour to allow the valuer to refine the market value of your property and explain why their agency should be your marketing representative. You will also have the chance to decide whether you feel comfortable with the agent and to ask questions about the sales process. On average, people only sell three times during their lifetime, and as processes are always changing, no question is a silly question.

Be wary of agents who inflate values and asking prices in order to trick you into instructing them whereby your property could remain unsold for many months. Eventually, lacking interest and a buyer, this can result in your accepting a lower offer than you would have done had you come to market at the right level.

To book a valuation you can either complete our Valuation Request Form or get in touch with our office on 020 8422 5222.

Be wary of agents who inflate values and asking prices in order to trick you into instructing them whereby your property could remain unsold for many months. Eventually, lacking interest and a buyer, this can result in your accepting a lower offer than you would have done had you come to market at the right level.

To book a valuation you can either complete our Valuation Request Form or get in touch with our office on 020 8422 5222.

Selecting an Agent

For most of us our property is our most valuable asset so you will want to know it is in good hands.Therefore, selecting an agent will be the most important decision you make when selling your property.There are many questions which should be asked, such as:

How well established are they in your area?

Do they have a busy and well-presented high street office?

How experienced are their staff?

Are they regulated by any professional bodies?

Will they act in your best interest?

How successful have they been in the local area?

How broadly will the agent market your property?

Do they advertise on the major property portals?

Do they have a large database of qualified buyers looking for a property of your type?

Will they provide an excellent service?

Will they accompany viewings?

Will they give you regular feedback after viewings or have the facility for you to view this online?

Do they explain clearly their agency agreement and fee structure or are there traps and hidden charges?

Are their fees reasonable in relation to the service they provide?

Choose the agent with whom you feel most comfortable and confident that they will achieve for you the highest sales price possible. Choosing the agent offering the cheapest fee is not usually the best way of going about things. The difference in fees in relation to the value of your property is negligible and the better agent will obtain a higher sale price through to completion. Choosing the best agent can pay for your fee two or three times over. There is truth in the saying 'You get what you pay for'.

Presenting your Property

First impressions are vital to attract potential buyers, letting them see photographs on our websites and to further impress them on viewing. So keep your home inviting by ensuring that it looks and smells clean, is tidy and free from clutter, although it doesn't have to be a show home! The aim is to prompt good offers and achieve the maximum price.

Presenting your Property

First impressions are vital to attract potential buyers, letting them see photographs on our websites and to further impress them on viewing. So keep your home inviting by ensuring that it looks and smells clean, is tidy and free from clutter, although it doesn't have to be a show home! The aim is to prompt good offers and achieve the maximum price.

Marketing your Property

The internet is increasingly the first place potential purchasers will begin their property search, so a few questions worth asking are:

Will your property be listed by your agent on all the major property portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla and PrimeLocation?

Is the agent's website cutting-edge and easy to use?

Does the agent provide you with a virtual tour and property microsite?

Will the agent send email alerts and text messages as well as telephoning potential purchasers?

When potential buyers are out and about in the area:

Is your agent's office located in a busy high street with local transport links where they will maximise on passing enquiries?

Is their window display and office bright and inviting?

Do they erect eye-catching ‘FOR SALE' boards?

Do you see signs of their success in their ‘SOLD' boards?

At David Conway & Co. all the answers to these questions will be an emphatic ‘YES'.

We will ensure that your property is visible to as many potential buyers as possible both online and in the real world, and that such interest is converted into many viewings. The more viewings you get the more offers you will receive and we will use this competition to raise and secure the sale price.

When potential buyers are out and about in the area:

Is your agent's office located in a busy high street with local transport links where they will maximise on passing enquiries?

Is their window display and office bright and inviting?

Do they erect eye-catching ‘FOR SALE' boards?

Do you see signs of their success in their ‘SOLD' boards?

At David Conway & Co. all the answers to these questions will be an emphatic ‘YES'.

We will ensure that your property is visible to as many potential buyers as possible both online and in the real world, and that such interest is converted into many viewings. The more viewings you get the more offers you will receive and we will use this competition to raise and secure the sale price.

Receiving Offers

Our trained negotiators will negotiate the best offer for you

Provide details of offers and the buyer submitting it, both verbally and in writing

Verify the buyer's financial arrangements and seek evidence of their ability to purchase

Confirm their buying position (obtain chain details from their agent if appropriate)

Compare and advise you if more than one offer is received

Provide honest, professional advice and guidance on accepting the offer that is best for you and your circumstances

Whether you accept or reject an offer is entirely your choice. Aside from the price offered, you should also consider other aspects, such as the financial ability of the buyer to proceed and their deposit amount, their buying position and timescales (whether they are first time buyers, have nothing to sell, are sold subject to contract, on the market etc.), and whether they have placed any conditions on their offer.

Whether you accept or reject an offer is entirely your choice. Aside from the price offered, you should also consider other aspects, such as the financial ability of the buyer to proceed and their deposit amount, their buying position and timescales (whether they are first time buyers, have nothing to sell, are sold subject to contract, on the market etc.), and whether they have placed any conditions on their offer.

Instructing a Solicitor

Once we have agreed a sale, you will need to instruct a solicitor to deal with the conveyancing, and they would also deal with your purchase if any.

We suggest using a recommended solicitor who we trust to deal with the progress of your sale efficiently and wisely. You will generally get what you pay for, so avoid selecting a cheap conveyancer who will be unable to provide a satisfactory and speedy service. They are likely to lack full qualifications and experience, and work on a ‘panel' basis which lacks continuity.

A good solicitor can make or break a sale. They must act in your best interests whilst gaining the co-operation of 'the other side'. They should be approachable to both you and ourselves as we would need to have regular contact and updates from them during the course of a sale.

You may have a solicitor you have used before who you know and trust, but if not, we enjoy a good working relationship with a number of experienced local solicitors who we can recommend, all of whom follow The Law Society's National Protocol for domestic conveyancing.

Instructing a Solicitor

Once we have agreed a sale, you will need to instruct a solicitor to deal with the conveyancing, and they would also deal with your purchase if any.

We suggest using a recommended solicitor who we trust to deal with the progress of your sale efficiently and wisely. You will generally get what you pay for, so avoid selecting a cheap conveyancer who will be unable to provide a satisfactory and speedy service. They are likely to lack full qualifications and experience, and work on a ‘panel' basis which lacks continuity.

A good solicitor can make or break a sale. They must act in your best interests whilst gaining the co-operation of 'the other side'. They should be approachable to both you and ourselves as we would need to have regular contact and updates from them during the course of a sale.

You may have a solicitor you have used before who you know and trust, but if not, we enjoy a good working relationship with a number of experienced local solicitors who we can recommend, all of whom follow The Law Society's National Protocol for domestic conveyancing.

Progressing your Sale

Throughout the process we will liaise with you, your solicitor, your buyer's solicitor, your buyer, mortgage brokers, and other agents if there is a chain, updating you and ensuring that satisfactory progress is maintained.

Your solicitor will send the buyer's solicitor a draft contract with the particulars of the sale and price. They will send you forms asking you about your property and its fixtures and fittings which you should complete straight away and return to them to put with the contract. Also provide them with any certificates and guarantees for works or inspections to do with the property.

The buyer's solicitor will raise enquiries about the contract and documents, so be prepared to respond clearly and promptly in order not to delay the sale process.

The buyer's solicitor will raise enquiries about the contract and documents, so be prepared to respond clearly and promptly in order not to delay the sale process.

Exchange of Contracts

Unless they are cash purchasers, when your buyer has received their mortgage offer following survey and their solicitor is content with answers to all enquiries, a completion date can be agreed by all parties. Seller and the buyer will be called in by solicitors to sign contracts. The buyer will lodge a non-refundable deposit with their solicitor. Once authorisation has been given by both parties, the solicitors will exchange contracts, at which point the transaction becomes legally binding and the buyer would forfeit monies should they default on completion.

Completion

Moving day has arrived! The outstanding monies will be transferred to your solicitor who in turn will transfer them to you after deducting any fees. They will also redeem your mortgage (if any).

On completion you must ensure that the property is vacated and that no belongings remain unless it has been agreed in writing by both parties beforehand. You must also ensure that all keys are given to your agent to enable full access by the new owner.

You must take meter readings before you leave and inform the utilities companies.

Employ the post office to redirect your post to your new address and let anyone important know that you have moved.

You should do this at least two weeks before completion.

You must take meter readings before you leave and inform the utilities companies.

Employ the post office to redirect your post to your new address and let anyone important know that you have moved.

You should do this at least two weeks before completion.

In our most recent survey 99% of our customers would recommend us to others of which 100% were either satisfied or very satisfied with our service.

More properties exchanged and let in the last 12 months than any other local agent

More new sales and lettings instructions in the last 12 months than any other local agent

In the last 6 months, we have completed the most sales in the area, over 10% more than our closest competitor.